A HEALTH trust is to consider whether it should change meeting rules so the public will have quicker access to papers.

After calls for greater transparency from the Oxford Mail last month, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust says it will make a decision at a private meeting of its board.

During a meeting last month, the Mail raised concerns when a reporter was stopped from leaving with copies of documents provided to the public.

Members of staff said the trust’s policy was to provide them during the meeting for reading but visitors were not allowed to take away copies on the day or take photographs of the documents.

They insisted the reports could not be published until a week later because they might be ‘subject to change’ but the practice was described as ‘ludicrous’ by a health campaigner.

When the Mail questioned whether the policy was fit for purpose, chairman Martin Howell replied: “You have raised a question about our policy and I think we need to think about that and take it away.”

Last night an Oxford Health spokesman added: “Oxford Health is currently in the process of reviewing its policy on the release of Board papers at the meeting of its Board in public. This issue is about timing rather than transparency.

“Our current policy is about ensuring that information in the public domain is factually correct and it is compliant with current legislation. We are committed to transparency and following board consideration and approval we routinely publish Board papers on our website.

“At the next private meeting of the board a proposal will be put forward that would change our existing policy and allow board papers to be released at the conclusion of meetings.”